Amaro optimistic Utley will be ready for Opening Day
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Amaro optimistic Utley will be ready for Opening Day
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
UPDATED - 2:35 p.m.
Just got off the conference call with Ruben Amaro, Scott Sheridan, and Dr. Michael Ciccotti.
A few important points. . .
1) Amaro said that all the reports he has heard are that Utley has a very good chance at returning to the Phillies in time for Opening Day, which starts a week later next season thanks to the World Baseball Classic. The Phillies gave a rough timetable of four-to-six months for Utley's return, but it sounds like they are banking on him being more toward the four months.
"Our feeling is that he's going to be fairly close to ready if not ready by Opening Day," Amaro said. "A lot of it depends on how the rehab goes, how the surgery goes. It isn't an exactly science. . .We fully expect to have Chase Utley with us for the bulk of the season."
2) While the "Balky hip" Pat Gillick declared Utley to have over the summer was often blamed for the drop-off in Utley's production over the course of the season, Amaro said he doesn't think the injury had much to do with it. Amaro said he thought Utley's struggles were more "mechanical" than anything. Ciccotti said Utley's symptoms were relatively "minor." Though all acknowleged the injury probably affected him to some degree, particularly from a mental stand point, they also said there wasn't one specific baseball movement that caused the pain. So it doesn't sound like he was in agony every time he finished his swing.
3) This is more of a "condition" than an "injury," at least the way it sounds. Sheridan said there was no one specific occurence that caused it. He said Utley reported feeling some pinching in his right hip all the way back in the offseason. He said it wasn't a steady pain, that the "pinching" sensation would flare up now and again. There would be good days and bad days.
4) The Phillies don't plan on doing anything drastic to replace Utley. As Amaro said earlier, they expect him to be back sometime before or early in the season. The GM said he thinks the Phils are covered with veteran utility infielder Eric Bruntlett and rising prospect Jason Donald. So in spring training, while Utley is out, it sounds like Donald could get some significant playing time. That said, the Phils won't shut their eyes to available free agent infield options. But they don't feel the need - at least not publicly - to scramble to find a starting-quality second baseman.
Here is our coverage from earlier in the day:
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As we await a 2 p.m. conference call with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan, we'll try to take a look at the implications of Chase Utley's injury (complete details are down below).
First, it isn't clear what, exactly, the injury is. But it sounds like it could be similar to the one suffered by Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, who missed the ALCS due to a hip injury that would require surgery. In this article in the Boston Globe, Amalie Benjamin details Lowell's condition.
Lowell was ultimately operated on by New York-based doctor Brian Kelly, one of the doctors who examined Utley earlier this offseason while trying to determine the source of the pain he has experienced for the better part of the season.
Here's an excerpt from Benjamin's article:
The arthroscopic surgery, if all goes well, will repair Lowell's labrum. It will also include shaving down "a big bone spur on the top of my femur. I think that's what's been jamming that whole hip area," Lowell said.
Had the injury just been to the labrum, the recovery time would be far shorter. But as it stands, Lowell said it should be possible to be cleared to start baseball activities in three months.
He said the doctors are also looking at an area on his adductor for issues.
Throughout the second half of the season, Utley's hip was one of the most talked-about body parts in the city of Philadelphia. Despite his struggles at the plate and the admission of general manager Pat Gillick that Utley was dealing with a "Balky hip," the all-star second baseman was evasive whenever asked about the injury.
Apparently, it was pretty serious.
The Phillies announced today that Utley will undergo surgery next week that could sideline him for the beginning part of the 2009 season. Sheridan and Amaro will be available on a conference call at 2 p.m., so we should know more sometime after that.
It isn't clear when, exactly, Utley suffered the injury. But he has been on the Phillies' internal injury report since at least early May. Through May 5, Utley was hitting .362 with 13 home runs and 26 RBI in 33 games.
After that, he hit .273 with 20 home runs and 78 RBI in 126 games.
How much the drop-off had to do with the inevitable slow down from the blistering pace at which he started the season and how much it had to do with the injury is unclear.
According to the Phillies, Utley has undergone a series of diagnostic tests on his hip since the end of the season. Based on those tests, surgery was recommended.
According to the team, Utley will not be able to resume baseball activities until 3-4 months after surgery. Three months from Monday is Feb. 24, 10 days after the start of spring training. But the total recovery time could be four to six months.
Four months from Monday is March 24, nine days before the end of spring training.
Five months is April 24, which would cause him to miss 16 games.
Six months is May 24, which would cause him to miss 43 games.
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What kind of options do the Phillies have?
The first name that comes to mind is infield prospect Jason Donald, who, it turns out, was awarded the Darrell Stenson Award today, which is given by the Arizona Fall League to a player who "best exemplifies unselfishness, hard work and leadership."
Donald ranked fourth in the AFL with a .407 batting average this year. He has quickly become one of the Phillies' top position prospects. He'll certainly get a chance to earn a roster spot in spring training.
Eric Bruntlett, who filled in when Jimmy Rollins was injured, is another option.
But if the Phillies believe that Utley might miss a significant amount of time next season, they will likely need to look for a free agent option. Tad Iguchi filled in the last time Utley was hurt.
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The team also announced that third baseman Pedro Feliz will need back surgery and faces 8 to 12 weeks of rehab. Surgery will be performed by Dr. Robert Watkins, who recently operated on Eagles right guard Shawn Andrews.
More later ...
who cares they won the world series!!!!!— MICKDONAHUE- FOr those of you who care Jason Donald will start at 2b until Utley is ready. Dobbs will start at third until Feliz is back. Brunlett will be off the bench, or perhaps play against Lefties. Iguchi will play if Donald fails or if we face a really tough pitcher. See what a gift a few extra players can be.— jeff gross
- Bring back Iguchi, and have Donald up for the start of the season as well.
- Iguchi is not signed by the way. He is a FA. They released him....and declined the option on Taguchi as well. And of course who care. Can't complain for 5 years after a title. Everyone knows that.— Captain
- Iguchi signed a AAA contract with us. Relax— jeff gross
- I think he declined his assignment but I could be wrong. November 13, 2008 Refused minor league assignment - free agent— Captain
Comment removed.- Utley should have been operated on as soon as possible. I am not sure why they had to wait four weeks to come up with this conclusion. They should have known they were dealing with a surgical problem during the season. Is this the same medical staff that cleared Freddy Garcia before the trade?— glennboe
- Comment removed.
- If the area was inflamed at the end of the season, which seems quite likely, they would normally wait until the inflammation subsides. Alathough the surgery was announced now (about three weeks afte the WS) this was not "just" diagnosed. It's a good bet that they were getting second (and third) opinions and considering the options. From the sound of it an injury to the labrum is more likely than a bone spur. (Both, as Lowell had, is also a possibility). When I was 34 I had a bone spur removed from the end of my femus removed, and the projected recovery time was estimated at 6-8 weeks. And thus was before they has arthroscopic surgery. (It took somewhat longer since I was in an accident shortly after and received a worse injury to my shoulder.)— judas_priest
- No suprise there...I knew he was hurting. But the Feliz surgery is a shocker. Both s/b back a stronger than ever. As for Bruntlet, he will fill in nicely liek he did for Rollins last year (despite a tough first game). I always considered Bruntlet one of last years 'unsung' heroes anyway— LongtimeFan3
- no worries. yes surgery is not good news, but the news comes in the off-season and he will be fine just in time for opening day. GO PHILLIES! can't wait til next season! GET WELL SOON CHASE!— phillyforlife
- they will be fine offensively without utley for a month or so.. but it wont matter if the phillies have been conned into believing their starting pitching is good enough, because it isnt... how about getting in the market for jake peavy? he would be the one guy worthy of bankrupting the farm system for..— jim715
- I guess this raises the stock of the versatile Jerry Hairston Jr. Forget Ibanez. We don't need someone who is limited to one position and hits lefty. Charlie said he wants some help in the infield (gee, wonder why?). Hairston'd the ticket. He plays all the infield positions and is a helluva CF to boot.— jp
- Phillies will sign Nick Punto, remember him? Bruntlett has a better chance being your starting left fielder than 2nd baseman on opening day. Either way, without Burrell and Utley, we are putting a lot of pressure on a historically slow starter, Ryan Howard.— mpt29
